Improvement in bird-cages



2 Sheena-Sheet 1. v

A. L. SMITH. Bird-Gage.

No. 199,||5.= Patented Jan. 8,1878.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. L. SMITH. Bird-Gage.

gatented Jan.-8,1878

"5 v "*i!!!!.!!!! B r mm UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

ANDREW-LAW SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IM PROVE'M-IENT IN BIRD-CAGES.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 199,115, dated January 8, 1878; application filed October 31, 1877. i 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW LAW SMITH, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bird-Gages, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a central vertical section, of a bird-cage embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the cups. Fig. 4 is a top view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a detached view, showing the manner of locking cross-wires. Fig. 6 is a top view of the base of the cage.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention relates to a bird-cage constructed with a body and base detachably connected, and providedwith a removable tray; and consists in a struck-up metal base having a seat within its upper flaring portion for the tray, and a throat through which the same may be removed, as hereinafter set forth and claimed; also, in a plate adapted to slide upon the vertical wires of the cage, so that when the cup is in position it will interlock therewith and hold the same in position, and, when the cup is removed, cover the opening, by being slid down to its lowest limit; also,

. in gathering the wires centrally at the top and hooking the same over a wire ring which is inclosed within the lower portion of the glass knob, all as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the body of the cage, and B a struck-up metal base, which is detachably connected thereto by the clips a and hinged catch a. This base is struck up from sheet metal into the form shown, the same consisting, substantially, of a lower pedestal, having an upper base or bottom for the cage, formed with a flaring rim and with a circular seat, in which the removable trayD is located. A portion of the metal which constitutes the sides of this seat for the tray is cut away, so as to form, just below the flaring rim y, a throat, C, for the passage of a removable tray, D, which rests on the upper face of the base, and constitutes the bottom of the cage.

-It is evident that by withdrawing the tray the seed, water, and dirt that have dropped thereon may be readily removed, and the tray and bottom of the cage kept clean.

E represents the cage-door, which may close by a spring suitably applied, and the top and bottom wires are extended laterally at the side opposite to the hinges or axis, so as to form stops d d, which abut against an adjacent wire, and limit the closing of the door. 011 said wire is fitted a ring, d, which may encircle one of the stops 0?, and thus lock the door.

F represents one of the cups for seed and water. It is formed with a neck, 6, which enters the space between adjacent wires, the cup resting on the horizontal portions .of the bends w w of said wires. Fitted on wires in progimity to the cup is a plate, G, which is located to the wires above the cup, and has a sliding motion, so that when the cup is removed for replenishing or cleansing, the plate falls and covers the opening occasioned by such removal, whereby the escape of the bird is prevented.

When, however, the plate is in its elevated position, its lower edge fits into the nicks or slits e of the neck 0 of the cup, so as to hold the latter and prevent displacement in any direction. The neck portion of the cup proj ects sufficiently into the body of the cage to afford access to the seed or water therein. The cross-wires of the cage are crimped, respectively, at contiguous places, as at g 9, whereby said wires are locked by being alternately passed in and out, and prevented from shifting, soldering thereof also being dispensed with.

H represents the top knob, which is made of glass, and formed with an interior recess, h, which is enlarged at its base, so as to receive the wire ring and bent hook ends of the wires, presently referred to. This knob, being of glass, is cheap, durable, and ornamental, will not corrode, and will not harbor vermin, which have an aversion to such material. Through the knob is passed a rod, J to whose upper end is secured a ring, h, for suspension of the cage. On the lower end of the rod is screwed a ring or hook-nut, K, from which the perch 7c is suspended, said nut bearing against awasher,

which clamps against the under side of the central gathering of the top wires, while the bottom of the knob bears against the upper side thereof, whereby, by tightening the nut, the knob and cage will be firmly clamped and secured. The ends of the top wires m are bentinto hooks or eyes, and gathered centrally by a connecting-wire, l. The hollow base of the knob H encircles the gathered and connected ends, thus preventing separation of said ends, and insuring the safety of the top wires.

It will be seen that by the several features a bird-cage is vastly improved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bird-cage constructed with a body and base detachably connected, the struck-up metal base B, formed with a seat within its upper flaring portion for the tray D, and with a throat, 0, extending partially around the side of said seat, substantially as herein shown and set forth.

2. Plate e, adapted to slide upon the vertical wires of the cage, so as either to interlock with the cup when it is seated between the wires, bent as at w as, or to close the opening between said bends when the cup is removed, substantially as herein shown and set forth.

3. The wires m, gathered at the top of the cage within the base of knob H, and bent over so as to hook upon a wire ring, l, adjusted within the hollow base of the said knob, substantially as shown and set forth.

ANDREW LAW SMITH.

Witnesses:

J OHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, H. E. HINDMARSH. 

